Angela and Peter "Ed" Beltram appear the picture of contented retirement, from his large backyard vegetable garden to the sun-splashed family room they added to the Ellicott City rancher in which they have lived for four decades. But appearances can be deceiving. This spring, the house was campaign central for a remarkably successful grass-roots zoning petition drive that participants said might not have succeeded without the former Democratic county councilwoman's wisdom and experience.

Howard County officials plan to examine this week dozens of zoning changes affected by the Comp Lite zoning bill, now that the hotly contested measure likely will not appear on the November election ballot. Some of the properties covered by the 38 specific zoning changes and 49 zoning law changes in the bill are also the subject of separate, individual zoning cases begun after it appeared the bill would go to referendum. Some of the cases - including housing proposed for the 13.5-acre Morsberger property on Old Frederick Road in Marriottsville and a proposed office building at historic Woodlawn Manor - are still pending before the Zoning Board or the County Council, so the apparent death of the referendum has left their status unclear.

BELTRAM IS TOPS AS COUNCILWOMANFrom: Betty SimonEllicott CityWhen it comes to protecting a Howard County caught in the endless whirlwind of growth demands, Angela Beltram, our councilwoman from the 2nd District, has been nothing less than extraordinary.Selfless, hard-working, intelligent, innovative and competent, she has conducted a tireless campaign to ensure the worthiness of our district and county for future generations. She has directed no small part of her energies to the creation of an informed and active constituency who support the responsible management of Howard County's growth.

Having succeeded in throwing a year's worth of land use planning into limbo, Angela Beltram, community activist and former elected and appointed official, is eyeing another prize: overhauling the county's zoning process. While both efforts target zoning, the intended results are distinctly different. Beltram led an effort that placed a referendum on the November ballot that challenges hundreds of rezoning cases approved last year in what is commonly referred to as Comp Lite. Now she and supporters believe it is time to make fundamental changes in how zoning matters are decided.

A SECOND OPINION ON BELTRAM'S RECORDFrom: Robert Ryan TouseyEllicott CityBetty Simon's letter of Oct. 7 characterized Angela Beltram, D-2nd, as outstanding. I disagree. Ms. Beltram's term has been plagued by disagreements with colleagues, broken promises and ineffectiveness. After reviewing the Beltram record, voters of the second district can decide for themselves if it is outstanding or dismal.On April 4, 1988, Councilwoman Beltram walked off the council dais as the council prepared to vote on six appointments.

It was the wildflowers vs. the lawn mowers at Monday night's County Council hearing, and the flowers weren't shrinking violets."Lawns basically are environmental deserts," treated with chemicals and devoid of wildlife, testified Ken Hart of Woodbine, former president of the Audubon Society of Maryland.Hart was one of 20 people who testified on Councilwoman Angela Beltram's bill to limit the height of private lawns to 1 foot. Hart said the bill would set back environmentalists' efforts to encourage people to let their lawns grow into habitats for birds and other wildlife.

Dozens of proposed zoning changes approved in an omnibus County Council zoning bill will be decided by Howard County voters now that the elections board has certified enough signatures to put the issue on the 2006 ballot. Betty Nordaas, the county elections administrator, said that 6,027 names were verified when her office stopped counting - 20 percent more than the required 5,000. Angela Beltram, a former County Council member who led the petition effort, declared her ad-hoc group "delighted" about the drive's success.

In the First District, we endorse Democrat Shane Pendergrass whose years of community service and leadership on the council qualify her for another term. Republican challenger Dennis R. Schrader, a hospital facilities director, has some interesting ideas about growth, though.Republican Darrel Drown is our choice in the Second District over incumbent Angela Beltram. Ms. Beltram has been a vocal force on the council and among its most strident growth critics. ++ We nonetheless question her effectiveness.

By James M. Coram and James M. Coram,Sun Staff Writer | February 17, 1994

Former Democratic state Sen. Edward J. Kasemeyer of Ellicott City yesterday confirmed that he may enter the governor's race."Some people in Howard and the surrounding counties have told me they are not content with the announced candidates and have asked me to look at that race," Mr. Kasemeyer said.He said he will make a decision in early March.Friends acknowledge that Mr. Kasemeyer would be a long shot, but do not dismiss his chances. The larger the field, the greater his chance of winning, the theory goes.

A man and a 17-year-old were arrested Saturday morning after police said they held six people at gunpoint during a robbery of a house in Odenton.Police surrounded the home in the 400 block of Patuxent Road at 4:07 a.m. and apprehended the two men as they tried to escape the house and get away in a car parked in the driveway.Breck O. Blunt, 21, of the 1300 block of Beltram Court in Odentonand Cornell Jerome Neals, 17, of the 1800 block of Arwell Court in Severn were charged with armed robbery and drug violations.

Angela and Peter "Ed" Beltram appear the picture of contented retirement, from his large backyard vegetable garden to the sun-splashed family room they added to the Ellicott City rancher in which they have lived for four decades. But appearances can be deceiving. This spring, the house was campaign central for a remarkably successful grass-roots zoning petition drive that participants said might not have succeeded without the former Democratic county councilwoman's wisdom and experience.

Dozens of proposed zoning changes approved in an omnibus County Council zoning bill will be decided by Howard County voters now that the elections board has certified enough signatures to put the issue on the 2006 ballot. Betty Nordaas, the county elections administrator, said that 6,027 names were verified when her office stopped counting - 20 percent more than the required 5,000. Angela Beltram, a former County Council member who led the petition effort, declared her ad-hoc group "delighted" about the drive's success.

ORGANIZERS OF a petition drive to place an omnibus zoning bill approved by the Howard County Council on next year's ballot say they hope to submit about 4,000 names to county election officials tomorrow, according to Angela Beltram, a former County Council member helping to lead the effort. "We're way ahead of our goal," Beltram said, noting the group has been collecting signatures for a month. The law requires 5,000 valid signatures to place a council bill on the ballot, and tomorrow's submission will give organizers another 30 days to get the rest.

Ellicott City residents hoping to overturn a County Council bill that changed zoning on dozens of Howard County properties are moving to quickly organize their petition drive to beat an initial 60-day deadline. Angela Beltram, a former County Council member helping to organize the campaign to bring the bill to referendum in next year's election, said residents are gathering resources to start collecting signatures by late next week. Beltram's group plans to file election board papers by Monday and have an organizational meeting Wednesday night, where Patrick Dornan, organizer of a petition drive two years ago to block an income tax increase, is expected to speak.

Ellicott City residents hoping to overturn a County Council bill that changed zoning on dozens of Howard County properties are moving to quickly organize their petition drive to beat an initial 60-day deadline. Angela Beltram, a former County Council member helping to organize the campaign to bring the bill to referendum in next year's election, said residents are gathering resources to start collecting signatures by late next week. Beltram's group plans to file election board papers by Monday and have an organizational meeting Wednesday night, where Patrick Dornan, organizer of a petition drive two years ago to block an income tax increase, is expected to speak.

Republican Darrel Drown, who had the best showing of any County Council candidate four years ago, announced his re-election bid Sunday in Elkridge -- an area he has yet to represent.The Democratic-controlled council altered Mr. Drown's district more radically than any other when redrawing the lines for the 1994 election. Mr. Drown's district, which now includes Elkridge, is about 40 percent new to him. It has a voter ratio of 1.24 Democrats to every Republican.If that worries him, he doesn't show it."

Having succeeded in throwing a year's worth of land use planning into limbo, Angela Beltram, community activist and former elected and appointed official, is eyeing another prize: overhauling the county's zoning process. While both efforts target zoning, the intended results are distinctly different. Beltram led an effort that placed a referendum on the November ballot that challenges hundreds of rezoning cases approved last year in what is commonly referred to as Comp Lite. Now she and supporters believe it is time to make fundamental changes in how zoning matters are decided.

In the last two weeks prior to the election, County Executive-elect Charles I. Ecker did something he had never done before.He received more money than incumbent M. Elizabeth Bobo -- substantially more. According to financial reports filed Tuesday, Ecker raised $23,172 to Bobo's $6,435.Even if the $10,000 he lent himself is subtracted -- he lent his campaign $30,000 overall -- Ecker still raised more than twice what Bobo raised in the same period.To do so, he needed help from the Howard County Home Builders, which gave him $4,326, and the local Republican state Central Committee, which gave him $1,100.

By James M. Coram and James M. Coram,Sun Staff Writer | February 17, 1994

Former Democratic state Sen. Edward J. Kasemeyer of Ellicott City yesterday confirmed that he may enter the governor's race."Some people in Howard and the surrounding counties have told me they are not content with the announced candidates and have asked me to look at that race," Mr. Kasemeyer said.He said he will make a decision in early March.Friends acknowledge that Mr. Kasemeyer would be a long shot, but do not dismiss his chances. The larger the field, the greater his chance of winning, the theory goes.

A man and a 17-year-old were arrested Saturday morning after police said they held six people at gunpoint during a robbery of a house in Odenton.Police surrounded the home in the 400 block of Patuxent Road at 4:07 a.m. and apprehended the two men as they tried to escape the house and get away in a car parked in the driveway.Breck O. Blunt, 21, of the 1300 block of Beltram Court in Odentonand Cornell Jerome Neals, 17, of the 1800 block of Arwell Court in Severn were charged with armed robbery and drug violations.